The textures of nine covering fabrics for car seat were evaluated by male students in their twenties and male experts in their fifties using only human tactile sensation, and physical properties of those fabrics were measured. We examined the correlations between the subjective evaluations of the texture image and the physical properties of covering fabrics. It was determined that image adjectives had correlations with physical adjectives, and physical adjectives had correlations with physical properties in both of the test groups. We developed objective evaluation equations for predicting a texture image by multiple regression analysis using the principal component of physical properties as explanatory variables and the mean preference scores of image adjectives as criterion variables. And it was confirmed that the texture image was predicted by the physical properties of covering fabrics.

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“Shittori” in Japanese word of the human tactile sensation was not the same as smoothness. We evaluated the “shittori” feeling for fabrics by the sensory evaluation such as Kendall’s rank method, Scheffe’s method of paired comparison (modified method by Nakaya), and analyzed the relationship between the results by sensory evaluation and the mechanical, surface and thermal properties of fabrics measured by the KES system.
The stronger “shittori” sensation for fabrics was accompanied with either the warm or soft. The yarn count and yarn density were related to the intensity of “shittori”. The effective characteristic values to understand “shittori” feeling of fabrics were q_max (the maximum value of heat flux), MIU (coefficient of friction), 2HB (hysteresis of bending moment), WC (compression energy) and thickness. In the cosmetics field, “shittori” expresses such state as the moisture is maintained in the skin, however in the case of “shittori” for fabrics, moisture regain of fabrics did not affect the subjective evaluation of “shittori”.

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Making knot is important work in the textile industry. Now, devices which make knots such as knotters and splicers are spread. However these devices cannot make all knots used in the textile industry, thus workers still make knots by their hand in some textile mills. These mills, therefore, demand to make knots automatically.
In this study, we used a set of parts which is called a mold to make various knots. Tracks corresponding to each knot must be carved on the surface of a mold. However experience by practice is needed to design a mold, thus a logical design process is demanded for anyone to design tracks. We used the knot theory and the Dowker notation to adapt the mold for each knot, then we tried to move and/or compose tracks in order to obtain the appropriate path.

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Knot strength is very important in processing ropes than other textile products. Thus double sheet bends are usually used in rope mills, because their knots are small and strong in order to tie two threads of yarn. These knots have been made by manual operation. These mills, therefore, are demanding to be able to make these knots automatically in order to improve process efficiency.
In this study, we have developed a knotter which is able to form a double sheet bend by using a set of molds. First, we designed a path to carve tracks on the surface of the mold by using the Dowker notation. But this path was too complicated to thread yarn through the path easily. Furthermore, it is desired that the knotter can be carried by a worker in rope mills. We, therefore, have moved and/or composed paths in order to obtain the simpler path for double sheet bends. Finally, we have integrated these molds and instruments such as air cylinders and linear guide ways in order to make a double sheet bend knot automatically.

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